Hard to tell how it works tho. Got any pics of it open? Looks like the bar across the top has to be flipped open (away from the cave) so the lid can open (toward the cave), right? Does the garage door opener open both?

Hard to tell how it works tho. Got any pics of it open? Looks like the bar across the top has to be flipped open (away from the cave) so the lid can open (toward the cave), right? Does the garage door opener open both?

Is it made of stainless steel?

How big is the open slot above the hatch? It's for bats, right?

Very cool! Thanks for sharing!

That is the beauty of it... hard to tell how it works. No , I do not have any pics pf it open... will send a request to RC (maybe he will beat me to it and post them without my askin?????)

yes, stainless steel.

the slot is for bats. as to how big.. compare to his angle grinder (5") in the pic with him.

Being a tradesman I can recognize extreme pride and quality in a well done job.Very nicely done and I am very happy to see stainless being used.A job done well the first time!! Nice cement work as well.

Like the mantra I heard all through my apprenticeship

"There is always enough time to do it right the second time!"(when I was rushing through a job)

Hey, now there is a sweet piece of work! The first thing I though of when I saw "garage door opener" was this: couldn't someone who really wanted to get inside just go buy a replacement garage door opener and waltz right in? I seem to remember a segment on the evening news from a few years ago about people doing this to real garages.

No s#*t...thats a steep hillside. You missed me getting run over by a bucket of gravel when we were lowering it down the hill....I did a head over heels thing as RC and Dave looked on. Dave said he was wondering if they'd have to carry my body out and RC said he was wondering if I'd do it again so he could snap a picture

Thanks RC and thanks too to all who were involved.

Now we need to start the pool to see how long it takes for the locals to breech or bugger up the gate (:

I was in this cave once before with my cusin who had been there once or twice before me. I came home and told my family about my adventure and about the lake inside, thats as far as we had time to go, and now that my son is turning 18 he want to see what it is all about for himself. It would also satisfy his school project where he has to go out and experiance something new to him and write about it. I was excited to think that I could take him there on spring break, this weekend, But now I don't know how to get in. It's a shame too. he is an unussually respectful young man and I wanted him to experiance more than just the usual walk throughs that we take the whole family on. Can I get a suggestion?

That is indeed a very nice gate. Kudos to the designer. If he reads this board please PM me I know of another cave which could use something similar to that and could use the blue-prints/specs.
Garage door opener? Hmm, something to think about. Considering the cave's location in terms of access I'd think probably that'd be over kill, but the round design and the concrete pad is very similar to what I had in mind.

Lemme know.

Without the possibility of death, adventure is not possible. ~ Reinhold Messner

I'm in school all day, I know weird for a 40 year old, and not working right now, I know even weirder, but if any one needs a hand with a design or even the construction I do have a degree in drafting and a degree in tool and die. and I am pretty good with my hands. or so I have been told. ;0) I just like helping with stuff like that and with all the changes in my life right now I want to network for some more new friends This sort of thing would be great!! Maby if more people had security on their caves they wouldn't mind ocational spectators.